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March 2013 Dispatch

• June 13-16 will mark the third annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. It will switch from Butler Fairgrounds to Coopers Lake, offering loads of wheeling.

What’s this?

• Chrysler says it’s going to build “buzz” vehicles, according to Automotive News. The Wrangler Unlimited Altitude is already one of those. The Red Wings Edition Ram for Detroit is another. Is an 8 Mile Jeep coming?

• You know that Grand Cherokee-based Maserati SUV? It’ll be called Levante.

• Check out that illustration for your first peek at a secret Jeep that Mopar is building for SEMA. Stay tuned.

Industry News
• The BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails program is ready to kick in for 2013, and 4x4 clubs in the U.S. and Canada can plug the trails in their area for a chance to get grant money to maintain said trails. You have until January 31 via facebook.com/bfgoodrichtires and @bfgoodrichtires.

A ’12 Outstanding Trail, Mirror Lake in California.

• Ford has developed a prototype carbon-fiber hood that weighs half what a steel version would. That equals a reduction in vehicle weight, obviously, and improved mpg.

• Speaking of Ford, are GM and the Blue Oval working on transmissions together? Probably, like the nine- and ten-speed variety.

• California has signed into law the Legacy License Plate Program, which is a redo of those cool black/yellow, yellow/black, and yellow/blue license plates. A minimum of 7,500 applications for any of the plates is required in the DMV’s hands by January 1, 2015 to make it a reality.

Reader Quote Without Story*
*As seen on Jp’s Facebook page

Quote Without Story
“With teens reporting nearly half (47 percent) of parents have driven at least occasionally without a seatbelt, 20 percent under the influence of alcohol, and 7 percent under the influence of marijuana, the survey reveals parents may not be the best role models for their teens behind the wheel.”

From a press release about the results of a survey from Liberty Mutual Insurance and Students Against Destructive Decisions

Auto Graphs
• White is the most popular auto color again. The PPG annual survey of global color popularity showed white ranking number one again, followed by silver, black, gray, red, natural, blue, green, and other. Seems 77 percent of those surveyed said paint color was a key factor in the purchase decision. Those with premium SUVs said they placed the most value on getting the color they wanted. Well, that sounds logical.

Let’s get deep: Is white really a color?

• The Neiman Marcus Christmas tradition of putting out an overpriced catalog is upon us. The 86th edition will include a $354,000 McLaren 12C Spider and a JetLev R2000, aka a jetpack. Well, that sounds logical.

• Is Italy selling more bikes than cars? Well, that sounds logical.

• Texas has officially bumped the speed limit to 85 mph on designated sections of highway. Well, that sounds logical.

• Go to baja1000tequila.com for the scoop on the SCORE Baja 1000 Sal Fish Signature Edition tequila. If you asked for this to be birthed, you are receiving it. Well, that sounds logical.

• Watch for turbocharged engines in passenger vehicles to rise 80 percent globally by 2017. That translates to 36 million vehicles. The info is via Honeywell, which supplies turbochargers to many vehicle manufacturers. Well, that does actually sound logical.

Twit Watch

Jeeps Carry Veterans Across Rubicon Trail
General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “America could not have won World War II without the Jeep.” Now they are carrying combat-injured veterans of not only WWII, but Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan across the rugged Rubicon Trail as part of the Wheelers for the Wounded Super Event. Two dozen veterans, many with Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars to their credit, were paired with hand-selected drivers for the event. “We just want to give a small token of our gratitude back to these brave men and women who have given so much for their country,” explained Kevin Carey, co-organizer of the event. The group wheeled from their base camp at Crystal Basin Mountain Resort to the Little Sluice Box for lunch before heading back to the resort for a dinner by the Rubicon Rock Heads and camaraderie around the campfire. Do you know a veteran that would benefit from being involved in this program? Contact Kevin Carey at 530/919-8510. Harry Wagner